Women are often portrayed as inferior to men within Ford Maddox Ford's famous novel The Good Soldier. This inferiority is symbolized through Edward's desire for young, attractive women, the description of the minuet, and also the reference to the shuttlecocks. Further, this female inequality plays a large part in developing the women's motivations, desires, and interactions with other characters. Female inequality to men plays an important role in the outcome of Ford's classic story, in setting into play the motivating factors behind Edward's desires, and Leonora's reactions. Ford's diction often makes us subtly aware of the inequality of women within the novel. In describing Edward, the narrator notes "He wanted only moral support at the hands of some female, because he found men difficult to talk to about ideals. Indeed, I do not believe that he had, at any time, any idea of making any one his mistress. That sounds queer; but I believe it is quite true as a statement of character." In this quote the use of the phrase "some female" is extremely telling about the attitude toward women prevalent in the novel. The phrase is dismissive, with the connotation that any woman would be acceptable, and that their support was neither truly valued nor valuable.

Despite the vividness of the female characters, Ford's treatment...

Edward's extra-marital affairs are sometimes portrayed as somehow excusable and even admirable. In discussing Edward's adultery, John notes, "Perhaps he could not bear to see a woman and not give her the comfort of his physical attractions," John surmises.
Women's inequality to men is symbolized clearly throughout Ford's sad novel in many different ways. Edward's fascination with women that are younger and more winsome than his wife is clearly symbolic of the women's inequality to men within the novel. In Edwards' eyes, women are judged almost solely on the basis of physical appearance and youthfulness. Edward does not consider intelligence or capability as a measure of a woman, and his attitude becomes a symbol of how the men in the novel often seem to view the women as pretty, subordinate playthings.

Ford's references to the minuet clearly symbolize the constrictions of the women's inequality to the men within The Good Soldier. Within the novel, the relationship of the two couples is described as a minuet, which is a precise, synchronous dance. Later, the narrator notes that a minuet is in fact a prison. Specifically, the minuet binds all of the characters into false roles that do not truly represent their personalities. This is especially true of the women, who are bound to appear virtuous and faithful, and sublimate their needs and desires to the needs of their husbands.

A shuttlecock is also an important symbol of women's inequality…